It also orders officials not to complain about low salaries or mention that they would like to go on a holiday or send their children to university.

Most of the document, however, lists at great length and in great detail the various punishments - from fines to imprisonment - which bribe-taking officials can expect to be meted out to them.

State-owned Rossiya 24 TV reports that the move is inspired by anti-corruption measures taken abroad. "Their bureaucrats' behaviour is beyond question," the station says. "Russian officials are not worse, and must give answers which contain no hidden meaning - like they do in the army."

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